Opera you didn't know you knew

Inspired by the 30-Day Opera Challenge done by Austin Lyric Opera, the staff at the Edmonton Opera have taken on their own 30-day challenge. Each week, we'll post answers from staff members about various aspects of opera, whether it's their favourite aria, an opera house they'd like to visit or their opinion on a genre. We welcome comments about your own take on the question, either on the blog or via social media.

Which aria or piece do you find is the most
recognizable?

Jelena Bojic, director of community relations: Habanera, from Carmen. It's been used everywhere, from Pepsi commercials to Disney movies to Tom and Jerry cartoons (my favourite) and it continuously gains more popularity.

Tim Yakimec, director of production: One of the most
recognizable would be Toreador from Carmen. It has been used in commercials,
on the Muppet show, I’m sure on Bugs Bunny, etc. I think of late that Nessun
Dorma from Turandot is gaining ground — once anyone hears it they know it is
opera, not necessarily which one though. Even Aretha Franklin sang her
take on it on the Grammy Awards in 1998 because Pavarotti was sick. Crossover to pop in one fell swoop!

Ha Neul Kim, company and stage manager: Intermezzo, from Cavalleria Rusticana. It's played at weddings, commercials and in The Godfather.

Michael Spassov, artistic administrator and chorus master: Nessun Dorma, from Turandot, simply because people sing it a lot.

Amanda MacRae, education and community outreach coordinator: Anything from Carmen is really recognizable. Whenever we do outreach events, people always recognize the songs from Carmen.

Stacy Young, special events coordinator: I didn't realize that the overture from Carmen was actually from an operatic piece, but it's really recognizable.

Cameron MacRae, creative coordinator: It's between two, for me. Musetta's Waltzfrom La Bohème, and the Queen of the Night aria from The Magic Flute. Musetta's Waltz is comic but beautiful, and when you think of arias, you think of Queen of the Night. She's in an a rage, and you know it.

Catherine Szabo, communications coordinator: I don't know if it's the most recognizable, but the operatic piece that I not only think is very beautiful, but always, always gets stuck in my head — even if I just read the lyric "Belle nuit, ô nuit d'amour" — is the Barcarolle from Les Contes d'Hoffmann.

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